1. Mesoamerican Reef By Hannah Kozlowski

2. Risk of Climate Change Increased water temperature 2-3 Fahrenheit Short period of time Algae die Food for coral (diminishing) Species living on coral reef die 500+ fish species Salt Water Crocodile Coral Bleaching

3. Risk of Climate Change cont. Irreparable Damage Debris Blown from coast during storms Erosion Due to hurricanes & severe storms Higher tides Due to increased rainfall Changing Weather

4. Risk of Fishing Overfishing Fisheries are removing too many fish from the ecosystem Fishing out of Season Lobster is caught all year

5. Overfishing Local Fisheries Don’t always follow regulations If illegal to sell to United States sell to local restaurants Industrial Fishing Fleets Bottom trawling damages ocean floor near reefs Exploit Species Largely hunt Grouper & Snapper Depleting lobster & conch populations Aquaculture Increased demand for shrimp farming Cause eutrophication of estuary

6. Fishing Out of Season Need stricter out of season regulations Disturbing the lifecycle of a species Fishing during mating season Catching mature females so they cannot lay eggs and sustain the species Too many fish are removed from the ecosystem to be sustained

7. WHAT’S BEING DONE?

8. Sustainable Lobster Traps Modified Lobster Traps Allow smaller lobsters to escape Lobsters can mature Fisherman do not lose revenue Prevent overfishing of Spiny Lobsters

9. Bottom Trawling Disturbs habitats Scrapes Ocean floor Captures all plant and animal species in range Belize has banned all bottom trawling – Helping preserve the species living in Mesoamerican Reefs – Preserves related ecosystems